TEDx Gains Traction in DC

I first learned of the TED (Technology Entertainment Design) Conference about 6 or 7 years ago from a friend.  Hundreds of wide-ranging and influential "TED Talks" later I attended my first live TEDx event on April 5th at the Washington office of FHI360 near Dupont Circle.  

The theme for today's event was "positive disruption," which I assumed was a play on words with the economic concept of "creative destruction."  My assumption proved correct with a welcome twist on the notion that change is necessary and inevitable but sometimes painful: the premise behind "positive disruption" is that the suffering, injustice, and inequity of the world that troubles so many of us must be disrupted through thoughtful and coordinated action made more possible by the emergence of social media.

Today's TEDx Dupont Circle (@TEDxDupont) was actually a part of a larger, global event called TEDx Change (@TEDxChange) , which was hosted by Melinda Gates (who needs no introduction) in Washington state.  The morning portion of the program featured Ms. Gates (@melindagates) introducing the topic, Cathleen Kaveny of Notre Dame making the theological case for positive disruption and inspiring Catholics and non-Catholics in the wake of the ascension of Pope Francis, Halimatou Hima inspiring the audience with her personal commitment to expanding education for girls in Niger, Roger Thurow (@rogerthurow) highlighting the advances made in hunger alleviation through "smallholder" farming practices, and Georgetown's Julie Dixon (@jdldixon) making the case for using influence to support social media-based campaigns like the one that raised over $700,000 for the buillied bus monitor in New York.

After a rountable discussion at lunch which yielded a fantastic idea for the Peacebuilder's Club at Stoddert, Allia Sonsa (@chefallisonsa) discussed how Micro Greens has trained lower-income families to eat more healthily while on a budget (the key is whole chickens!), Bill Eggers (@wdeggers) recounted how social media and other technologies have enabled change-minded people to join governments and NGOs in addressing problems afflicting the world's poor, Malika Bilal on how injustices and crimes against women and girls have been kept in the public's consciousness by diligent bloggers and other online activists such as Anonymous, and Jonas Singer on how Union Kitchen (@UnionKitchenDC) is working with local food entreprenuers to navigate the complexities of government regulation while keeping costs low and making a profit.

In addition there was a moving poetry reading, an 11-year-old rock-n-roll band that rivals The Clash in its incisive social commentary, and wonderful and interesting people in the audience.  I met Priya Ramesh (@newpr), who is the incoming Director of Digital Strategy for Burson-Marsteller, a global communications firm in the district.  She mentioned how attending the event today helped her realize that she "takes alot for granted.  The variety of issues was humbling.  Its important just to pick cause and use your influence to support it."  

Ramesh, throughout the course of the day, also commented on the internet and social media and its increasing importance, though she also acknowledged the downside as well, as people can get "addicted" to electronic communications and lose the personal touch when interacting with others.  Still, she feels as though coming to the TEDx event helped her "tie together" the time she has spent viewing TED content online with the experience she had meeting people and the resulting exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

Connecting the Washington DC community with the benefits and possibilities of TED is now the mission of two local TEDx organizations.  The Dupont Circle group is now curated by Liza Morris, who credited the volunteer organizers for putting on an excellent event today.  She foresees 1-2 TEDx "in-theater" events per year, and informed the audience that a new TEDx Adventure program is set to begin in May in which small groups of 10-15 people would venture out into the local community and learn something new and interesting.  The first such adventure will be to walk around Mt. Pleasant sampling the edible plants and flowers in that neighborhood!

There is also a TEDx Foggy Bottom in operation and I had the fortune of meeting one of its organizers, Hugh Moren, a junior (international relations, geography) at George Washington University.  Moren said he "likes the idea of small, community events.  Its a great forum to inspire people and to bring together the local community."  TEDx Foggy Bottom is in its 3rd year of operating and is planning its next event in February 2013 (www.facebook.com/tedexfobo, www.tedxfoggybottom.net), which will have 15-25 speakers.  

Both TEDx organizations are open to ideas for speakers and would very much appreciate suggestions for topics.